17β-Difluoromethyl steroids

Abstract

17β-Difluoromethyl steroids are disclosed which have progestational, antiprogestational activity and which are useful as and male and female contraceptive agents.

I claim: 
     
       1. A 17β-difluoromethyl steroid of the formula where R 6  is a hydrogen atom or methyl group with a proviso that R 6  is a hydrogen atom when R 7  is a methyl group; where R 7  is a hydrogen atom or methyl group with a proviso that R 7  is a hydrogen atom when R 6  is a methyl group; and R 10  is a hydrogen   
     
     
       2. A 17β-difluoromethyl steroid according to claim 1 where R 6  is 
     
     
       3. A 17β-difluoromethyl steroid according to claim 1 where R 7  is 
     
     
       4. A 17β-difluoromethyl steroid according to claim 1 which is 
     
     
       5. A 17β-difluoromethyl steroid according to claim 1 which is 
     
     
       6. A 17β-difluoromethyl steroid according to claim 1 which is 
     
     
       7. A 9-unsaturated steroid of the formula ##STR2## where R 7  is defined in claim 1. 
     
     
       8. A 9-unsaturated steroid according to claim 7 which is 17β-difluoromethylester-4,9-dien-3-one. 
     
     
       9. A Δ 9 (11) -steroid of the formula ##STR3## 
     
     
       10. A 9,11-disubstituted steroid of the formula ##STR4## where R 9  is a hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or bromine atom; and R 11  is an oxygen, fluorine or chlorine atom or hydroxyl group. 
     
     
       11. A 9,11-disubstituted steroid according to claim 10 which is 9α-chloro-11β-fluoro-17β-difluoromethylandrost-4-en-3-one. 
     
     
       12. A 9,11-disubstituted steroid according to claim 10 which is 9α-bromo-11β-fluoro-17β-difluoromethylandrost-4-en-3-one.